The appeal and reviews of "Adventure Cactus Island": A must-see for adventure fans

Adventure Cactus Island - Adventure Cactus Island -

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

Broadcast from April 4, 1967 to December 26, 1967 every Tuesday from 19:00 to 19:30

■Broadcasting station

TBS 30 Station Network

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 39

■ Director

Haruyuki Kawashima

■ Production

Planning and production: TBS
Video production: TCJ (now Eiken)

■Works

©TBS

■ Story

One day, brother and sister pair Ryuta and Tomato sneak into a submarine attraction at an amusement park. Igao, Cucumber, and Kabo are already on board. Ryuta and Igao start arguing over something strange, but the submarine starts moving and before they know it, they're adrift in the ocean. Eventually, the five of them wash up on a deserted island (Cactus Island) and start working together to survive!

■Explanation

This series, which is a follow-up to the popular program "Space Boy Solan," changed the setting from "space" and "future," which were popular in children's programs at the time, to "nature," and was produced as an adventure story about a boy and girl who are cast away on a deserted island. The show dynamically depicts the thrilling days of survival in a secret place unknown to adults, and has won overwhelming sympathy from children.
At the same time as the 39 episodes were being broadcast, a serialized manga by Hisamatsu Fumio was serialized in Shonen Sunday.

■Cast

・Ryuta/Mie Azuma ・Tomato/Kazuko Sugiyama ・Igao/Yoshiko Ota ・Cucumber/Chieko Kitagawa (now Chie Kitagawa)
・Gabo/Masako Nozawa ・Kero/Makiko Ito

■ Main staff

・Original story: Toyoda Aritsune ・Composition, Director (Chief Director): Kawashima Haruyuki ・Character design: Hisamatsu Fumio ・Animation: Komooka Shizuko, Tsunoda Toshitaka, Ashida Toyoo and others ・Art director: Takemura Hisako ・Music: Arashi Hidehiko, Hayashi Koba (TV Kobo)

■ Main Characters

・Ryuta is the leader of the group. He is stubborn but has more initiative than most.
・Tomato Ryuta's younger sister. She is the only female member of the group and is in charge of housework.
- The son of the owner of Igao Amusement Park, he has a strong elitist mentality and is self-centered.
A boy who is a cucumber scholar. He improves life on the island with various inventions and innovations.
A boy with great strength and a love for kabobo. He is loved by everyone.
A gorilla who looks just like Gorikabo. He mainly helps with heavy lifting.
A humorous mynah bird found on Kero Island. He is attached to tomatoes.
・Elder of the Osho Parrots. He can speak human language and knows everything about the island.

■ Theme songs and music

・OP
・"Adventure Cactus Island"
Lyrics by Junichi Yoshinaga; Music by Takeo Yamashita; Vocal Shop, Mie Azuma, Kazuko Sugiyama, Yoshiko Ota, Chieko Kitagawa, Masako Nozawa, Makiko Ito, Nori Nishio; Ending Theme
・"Always a pair"
Lyrics by Junichi Yoshinaga; Music by Takeo Yamashita; Singers by Kazuko Sugiyama, Masako Nozawa, Makiko Ito, and Nori Nishio

Adventure Cactus Island - Detailed Review and Recommendation

■ Background and creative intent of the work

In the late 1960s, TV animation was explosively popular among children. One of these, "Space Boy Solan," captivated many viewers with its adventure story set in the future and space. However, as time passed, viewers' interest shifted from "space" to "nature." So TBS planned "Adventure Cactus Island" as a new adventure story. This work aimed to provide new emotions and excitement to viewers by depicting children surviving in the unknown environment of a deserted island.

■ The appeal of the story

The story of "Adventure Cactus Island" begins at an amusement park attraction. The story unfolds when brother and sister Ryuta and Tomato board a submarine, and Igao, Kyuri, and Kabo join them. By chance, the submarine starts moving and washes ashore on a deserted island, stimulating children's imaginations. The survival life on the deserted island depicts the growth and friendship of the children as they secure food, build homes, and uncover the island's secrets. In particular, each episode features different adventures and challenges, allowing viewers to experience new excitement every time.

■Charm of the characters

Each character in this series is unique and charming. The leader, Ryuta, is stubborn but proactive, and leads his friends. Meanwhile, Tomato is in charge of housework and is the emotional support of the group. Igao has a strong elitist mentality and a self-centered personality, but he grows as the story progresses. Cucumber is knowledgeable and improves island life with various inventions and ingenuity. Kabo is a boy with a big appetite and superhuman strength, who provides humorous scenes. The animals that live on the island, Gori, Kero, and Osho, also add color to the story and have become beloved characters by viewers.

■Animation and Art

The animation of this film made full use of the technology of the time. In particular, the depiction of the natural environment and animals on the deserted island gave viewers a sense of realism. Character designer Hisamatsu Fumio's touch vividly portrayed the expressions and movements of the children, eliciting empathy from viewers. Additionally, art director Takemura Hisako's background art simultaneously expressed the beauty and harshness of the deserted island, enhancing the setting of the story.

■Music and theme songs

The music was composed by Hidehiko Arashino and Hayashikoba, and played a role in heightening the excitement and emotion of the adventure. The opening theme, "Adventure Cactus Island," in particular, remained in the viewers' minds as a song symbolizing the beginning of the adventure. The ending theme, "Always Together," is a song about friendship and bonds, reflecting the theme of the story. The singing voices of the theme song singer Vocal Shop and the cast made the songs feel familiar to viewers.

■ Broadcast and influence

"Adventure Cactus Island" was broadcast on 30 TBS affiliated stations from April 4 to December 26, 1967. A total of 39 episodes were broadcast every Tuesday from 7:00 p.m. for 30 minutes. The show taught children about the beauty and harshness of nature, as well as the importance of friendship and cooperation. During the same period, Hisamatsu Fumio's manga, serialized in Shonen Sunday, also gained popularity and entertained viewers in tandem with the TV anime.

■ Recommendations and ratings

"Cactus Island" was highly praised as a children's anime. In particular, the depiction of survival life on a deserted island, the growth of the characters, and friendship moved and excited viewers. This work was able to teach children the importance of respect for nature and friendship, while also conveying the joy of adventure. Even today, there are many fans who love this work, and some even call for a remake or sequel. "Cactus Island" is a monumental work for children's anime, and it is unlikely to lose its value in the future.

■ Related works and recommendations

For viewers who enjoyed "Adventure Cactus Island," we also recommend the following titles:

• "Space Boy Solan" - The previous show of this one, it is an adventure story set in the future and space. It is a work that depicts the friendship and growth of children, and has touched the hearts of viewers.
• "Jungle Emperor" - A work by Osamu Tezuka, it is an adventure story about coexistence with animals. The depiction of the natural environment and the animals is fascinating.
• "Heidi, Girl of the Alps" - A coming-of-age story set in the Swiss Alps. It is moving to see Heidi grow up in contact with nature.

■ Summary

"Adventure Cactus Island" is an original anime that was broadcast in 1967, and is an adventure story about survival life on a deserted island. This work, which depicts the growth and friendship of unique characters, as well as the beauty and harshness of nature, has given many children great inspiration and excitement. It continues to be loved by many fans today, without losing its value. Please watch this work and feel the joy of adventure and the importance of friendship.